The steamed mussels on the small plate menu paired with Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ and a side of potato and turnip gratin. (Photo by Dannielle Garcia)

By Danielle Garcia, Loyola Student News Service

While the Freret Beer Room’s primary focus is all in its name, the new restaurant’s 16 craft beers on tap are also meant to be paired with a full lunch and dinner menu from a chef who’s served in some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants.

“We aim to marry good food and good beer,” owner Eli Gay said. “We’re sort of presenting beer in a way that you would see wine at most restaurants.”Continue reading »

I am frequently asked where to dine, “where’s the best new place?” even, “where’s the best old place?” It’s an impossible question in New Orleans. There are too many choices. My column is mainly limited to the Uptown area, so that narrows the scope somewhat, but not really.

Last night’s question was, “Where are you brunching this weekend?” Well, here’s the answer. I’m brunching casual and close to home. I’m not trying anything particularly new. It’s a busy week, and I’m seeking comfort and familiarity. That said, comfort and familiarity in New Orleans also equal good food, great chefs, and innovative menus. Casual means no Apolline or Patois this go-round. It also means jeans, a baseball cap, and close enough to walk.Continue reading »

Lein Doan and her husband, Chef Hung Nguyen are part of the new management team at TruBurger on Oak Street. (Photo by Danielle Carbonari)

By Danielle Carbonari, Loyola Student News Service

Veteran managers of the celebrated Vietnamese restaurant Magasin have bought Tru Burger on Oak Street, but while they plan to add a few new twists, they said they primarily intend to stay true to its founder’s original vision. Continue reading »

Kyle Huling, the vice president of Urban South, serves beers to a line of customers. On Friday Nov. 11, Urban South Brewery celebrated the expansion of their brewery after being in business for just 7 months (Photo by Dannielle Garcia).

Before the prohibition era, New Orleans prided itself on being the “Beer Capitol of the South.” Now, with five breweries and more on the way, those days may be returning.

Urban South, open for only seven months, just celebrated its expansion. The brewery had a ribbon cutting ceremony for new tanks in their Tchoupitoulas Street home on Friday, Nov. 11.Continue reading »

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Each November, the American Thanksgiving tradition is celebrated over a meal of Turkey and Stuffing. There are an endless variety of regional bread stuffings across the country to choose from. The Southern tradition calls for a Corn Bread Stuffing.

That may indeed be the South, even the Deep South. But, this is New Orleans, and the two are not to be confused. The Creoles did not cook with cornbread nor did they use Saltines. Rice as filler. Yes. Meat. On occasion. But no cornbread.Continue reading »

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Freret Street businesses will play host to Timberland and Brooklyn Brewery as they end their nine-city MASH tour, which have featured pop-up shops and bars, concerts, beer festivals, and more. #NOLAMASH ends with “Freret Street Neighborhood Immersion” on Sunday, November 20 at 1 p.m. and will include a pop-up bar, lunch coupons, “VIP hookups”, and more.Continue reading »

Bar Frances and its sleek, modern building has replaced what was once the location of Frank’s Steakhouse. The Freret of our parents’ day—Long’s Bakery, Israel Delicatessen, and Canal Villere—has given way to the new Freret Street Corridor. We have Stacy Head to thank for the Freret renaissance. What was once a dilapidated abandoned street is now a thriving neighborhood and an established restaurant row of sorts.

Bar Frances is the latest addition to the growing area. The New American-styled restaurant and wine bar arrived on Freret only six months ago yet has become a firm favorite, serving an elegant European-inspired menu featuring classically refined cocktails, craft beer, and a French wine list.Continue reading »

Thank you New Orleans for your support over the last decade. The past ten years have been filled with food, drinks and memories that would not have happened if it were not for you. We are throwing a party to celebrate Felipe’s 10th Anniversary!Continue reading »

With today’s election being such a spectacle for the past few months, and a race that is reportedly very close, America’s next four years will be decided and revealed tonight. With such angst and uncertainty across the nation, local businesses and others are coming together to watch the election results, mostly over drinks and more drinks. Here’s a quick list of places having Election Watch Parties in Uptown.Continue reading »

The innovative Pop-Up restaurant trend long ago assimilated into Uptown’s culinary matrix. Chefs, both known and unknown, experiment with new concepts, play with cuisines far afield from expected niches, and introduce new menus before opening a permanent venue.

The latest to Pop-Up is Element from Executive Chef Michael Brewer. This Pop-Up is a take on the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, each course also inspired by the same. The menu is a seven-course tasting menu.Continue reading »

It’s that time again: New Orleans’ favorite food festival honoring our indigenous sandwich is back. This year, local craft breweries have joined forces with local chefs to compliment the contents of the Liedenheimers.

Poboy Fest Selection (via Instagram)

It all takes place on Oak Street. The old Carrollton shopping main-street of our parents and grandparent’s heyday may be gone, but there is currently a renaissance in flux. Meisel’s Fabrics and Hasse’s were some of the last holdouts of the old Oak, and Hasse’s remains, still supplying smocking and monograms to Uptown’s youngest. However, the new Oak is more about food, and the natural progression of the Oak revival as restaurant corridor has been the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.Continue reading »

The Germans settled the German Coast of Louisiana or Bayou Des Allemands, as it became known in the 1730s. The majority of New Orleans’ German immigrants arrived en masse in the early to mid-1800s. Those Germans settled in the City of Lafayette, now part of the lower garden district. St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Church, built right across the street from St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and around the corner from Catholic Notre Dame de Bon Secour Church tells the tale of a spirited New Orleans immigrant community that insisted on the continued worship in their native traditions and languages.

As we all know, New Orleans are indeed a spirited and spirit laden lot. We not only cherish and keep our traditions, we celebrate them like no other. Ergo, it’s October in New Orleans, and that means Oktoberfest.Continue reading »

One of the go-to Magazine breakfast spots continues to serve fresh, unique, and healthy choices. Surrey’s is one of those rare places where the health-conscious can order vegan tofu, black beans, and fresh squeezed juices, while their other half enjoys a Montana breakfast platter of Eggs, Ham, Bacon, Sausage, Country Gravy, and butter-laden Biscuits. There is more than enough variety to indulge one’s sweet tooth while friends concentrate on the savory side of the menu. Sadly, the house juice-blend of grapefruit, orange with fresh ginger has been MIA from the menu for over six months.Continue reading »

The renewed post-Katrina CBD is a hotbed of new restaurant concepts. One of the most popular is Willa Jean, located in the heart of the new South Market area. If you haven’t been, it’s time. Frankly, if you haven’t ventured out of Uptown, it’s time to explore the CBD restaurant scene. The days of wandering Poydras in search of a meal, any meal, are long gone. The CBD is now host to dozens of new and upcoming chefs and menus. Open for just a little over a year, Willa Jean is the current star.

Tulane University president Michael Fitts stands in front of a new “Angry Wave” rendering as he celebrates the reopening of the university’s Lavin-Bernick Center food court with new offerings. (submitted photo by Tracie Morris Schaefer)

Panera Bread, Zatarain’s, burritos, Asian dishes have joined the WOW Wingery and other familiar vendors in the Lavin-Bernick food court, which Tulane University officials rededicated Tuesday with the unveiling of a new large “Angry Wave” mascot logo.Continue reading »

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Sonic Juice, a new courtyard juice bar, is now open at Gasa Gasa, located at 4920 Freret Street. (Haley Pegg, Loyola Student News Service for UptownMessenger.com)

By Haley PeggLoyola Student News Service

Gasa Gasa teamed up with Beaucoup Juice to launch its newest attraction this weekend with the opening of Sonic Juice.

Gasa Gasa, Freret Street’s music and arts venue, opened the juice bar in its courtyard with drinks from Beaucoup Juice. The local juice bar and smoothie shop recently closed its storefront on Freret Street. The company stays in business by catering private events and festivals. The new courtyard juice bar is called Sonic Juice and offers alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages including sno-balls, daiquiris made from fresh fruit, and other frozen and non-frozen options.Continue reading »

The corridor of Jackson Avenue near Annunciation has its first restaurant in years, and it’s a perfect fit for the neighborhood. Mason Hereford and Lauren Holton are the duo behind the new Irish Channel sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf. Hereford, former Chef of Coquette, and Holton, formerly of High Hat, have created a menu with southern soul and a dining room reminiscent of your grandmother’s porch.

Gasa Gasa and Beaucoup Juice have joined forces to create “Sonic Juice”, an original courtyard juice bar at Gasa Gasa, located at 4920 Freret Street. The grand opening for the juice bar takes place Friday, September 23 (today) until Sunday, September 25 and will feature performances by Big Freedia, The Tanglers, and more.Continue reading »

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